Electric switch



(No Model.)

M. HOOPBS.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

No. 462,353. 'Patented Nov. 3,1891.

ATTORNEY.

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UNITED STATES PATENT CEEICE.

MAURICE HCCPES, OF lVES'l' CHESTER, PENNSYLYANIA.

ELECTRIC SWlTCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 462,353, dated November 3, 1891.

Application filed August 4, 1891. Serial No. 401,637. (No model.)

To all when?, t may concern.-

Beit known that I, MAURICE HOOPES, a citizen of the United States, residing` in 'Vest Chester, in the county of Chester and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Electric Switches, of which the following is a speciiication.

The invention has reference to electric switches.

The object of the invention is the production of a cheap and efficient switch, and one whose base or support may be used as the hanger-board of an arc lamp or other translating device.

The invention consists of the details of construction, which will hereinafter be described and claimed with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents a side elevation of the switch; Fig. 2, a plan of the same; Fig. 3, a detail; and Fig. 4 is -a view of a modilication.

A represents the base upon which the parts of the switch are supported. If the switch is t0 be used as an ordinary wall-switch, this board will be secured to the wall; but if the switch is to be used for an are lamp it is preferred to utilize the base A as the hangerboard of the lamp and secure the same to the ceiling.

B B are two metallic posts provided with binding-screws Z) for the line-wires and having pivoted to them, respectively, two flat strips or levers ZJ b. These levers are extended some distance on each side of the posts parallel to each other, and theirends are bent inward toward each other and secured together by screws b2, but with a block of insulating material h3 inserted between the ends. The screws are surrounded by insulatingbushings, which prevent electrical connection between the two levers. The blocks b3 of insulating material, while serving as connecting and insulating devices, also form handles for operating the switch.

C C are two binding-posts located in about the middle of the board and upon either side. To these are connected the wires leading` to the lamp or other translating device which the switch controls. In the case of an are lamp.

c are connected and extended to points below the respectivelevers h b. At the outer ends of the plates they are provided with blades c', which stand in the same plane, respectively, as the levers b, so that when said levers are tilted on their pivots they will pass between and into contact with the said blades. At the opposite end of .the board and centrally located is a met. ic bracket D, having` two blades d attael d to it, the space between being in the plne of the joined ends of the levers, and they are constructed to receive and make contact with the said ends, respectively, when the levers are tilted toward that end of the board. lVhen the levers are in engagement with these blades d, they are in electrical connection with each other through a bracket D.

When the switch is used upon the ceilin g pendent ropes E E are attached to each of the insulating-blocks b3, by means of which the switch may be tilted in either direction. lf the switch is used against the wall, these blocks may be used as handles.

ln operation the circuits are as follows: from binding-post B to oneof the levers b', to the corresponding plate c, post C, through the lamp, to the other post C, blade c, the other lever b', and post D. Vhen the lamp is cut out, the levers are in the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. l, and the circuit is absolutely broken through the lamp and short-circuited from one lever h to the other through the bracket D.

In some instances I combine with a switch of this form an automatic cut-out for the translating devices, which is illustrated in Fig. The adjacent ends of the levers d are provided with small lugs or teats t and a piece of paper inserted between them, which is held in place by the pressure of the ends toward each other. lVhen the potential increases abnormally, the paper is ruptured and the levers are allowed to come into contact with each other. rlhisis the ordinary paper cut-out;7 but so far as known to me the same has never been combined with a switch of this kind. A good feature of this switch is the manner of joining' and Vinsulating the two levers and of using them when so joined as a single lever.

It is obvious that the contacts which lead to IOO -thelamp may be on the same side of the pivots l as the shortcircuiting blades d, in which case 1he levers would be only single-ended and the lamp-contacts would be offset from the board, as shown in Fig. 4f. When the lever is out, the lamp is in circuit, and when it is in the short circuit is established.

Having thus described my invention, I-

2. In an electric switch, a pair of pivoted levers joined together, but insulated from each other at one end and separated at the other end by a sheet ot insulatingl material, such as paper, against which the ends of the levers press, the levers being provided with lugs or teats, which bear opposite each other upon the paper, two contacts arranged to make connection with the levers on one side of the axis, and a single contact arranged to make connectionwith the levers on the oppositc side of the axis, 'for the purpose set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto alixed my seal and signed my nainein thepresence ot two subscribing witnesses.

MAURICE noorizs. pi.

Witnesses:

E. S. HAINEs, C. A. Hoorns. 

